WG PARR TROPHY FINAL: This Sunday sees the 35th final of the WG Parr Trophy when first division pacesetters White Hart Combe and second division high flyers AFC Melksham lock horns at Corsham Town’s Southbank ground as the battle it out to lift this season’s Westernsport Trophies-sponsored Trophy.

We are down to the final two teams from the 39 that started out last September and if this final matches the ones from previous seasons then it should be another classic.

Mickey Hawkes in his first season of management has got AFC Melksham firing on all cylinders and although they are 12 places below Combe in league standings they have a very good chance of giving Hawkes some silverware at his very first attempt. Melksham’s only defeat to date came against AFC Calne in the knockout cup.

Should Melksham lift the Parr Trophy they will have done it the hard way as of the two finalists they have featured in all five rounds to date. Melksham’s route to the final consisted of a few tricky ties, having started with a 9-1 victory over third division Pack Horse Rangers in the Preliminary Round, when goals from Steve Pegler (three), Owen Bryan and Wayne Bailey who scored two each and singles from Chris Dore and Joe Murray saw them to victory.

They then overcame a potential banana skin in first division Bremhill View Social Club who they beat 1-0 with Owen Bryan scoring the all-important goal.

Next up for Hawkes side were second division stable mates The Crown Devizes and again Melksham coasted home winning 5-1, Owen Bryan was on target again with a another brace, Graham Griffiths, Gareth Evans and Kevin Watts scored one each.

Melksham travelled to Southwick Wanderers for their quarter-final tie and although their hosts play their football in division three they gave the visitors a very good game before slipping out the competition 4-0, that man Bryan was on target again with another two, Kane Udeh and Mike Callaghan added the others.

First division semi final opponents Rowde were expected to give Melksham one of their hardest games to date, but on the day they were outplayed as Melksham ran out 6-1 winners. Darren Whiting gave them the perfect start before further goals from Owen Bryan who bagged another double, Lee Jackson, Chris Dore and Joe Murray enabled Melksham to book their place in their first ever-proper Cup Final where they will give their best shot for glory even if they do start the game as slight underdogs.

If Melksham are doing well in Division two, their opponents White Hart Combe under the guidance of Trevor Rawlings are having a brilliant season in the first division where they are currently in the number one spot a position they have been since the start of the campaign.

Combe may go into the game as favourites to lift the trophy but they could be missing a few key players for their biggest ever game and if they are going to win their first piece of silverware they are going to have to work extra hard to deny a very good Melksham side their moment of glory.

Combe’s route to the Southbank has been a mixed one to say the least, unlike their opponents, Combe missed out on a preliminary round match but waiting for them in the first round were fourth division high flyers North Star B and after an exciting contest Combe gained a 4-3 victory courtesy of goals from Luke Hodder, Craig Fullam, Aaron Merryweather and Ed Baldwin.

Combe were paired up with cup holders Carpenters Arms in the second round and much to their relief they made it into the quarter-finals without even kicking a ball following the withdrawal of Carpenters from the league.

Combe hosted Corsham United for a place in the semi-finals and this game saw them romp home as they crushed their third division opponents 9-2, James Stone led the carnage as he hit a four timer, Shane Bell, Chris Pitman, Johnny Grogan, Craig Fullam and an own goal made up the nine.

Inform Bromham (Sunday) also from division three stood between Combe and their first ever final and although Bromham gave Combe a good game on the day, it was Trevor Rawlings side who booked the place here today thanks to a 5-3 win and goals from Chris Lenard, James Stone, Lee Fernandez, Gavin Ferris and Craig Fullam.

The match kicks-off at 2.00pm in front of what is expected to be a healthy crowd and if both teams play the football that they are capable of the paying public should be in for a feast of football.

The match is really hard to call but if Melksham get it right on the day and their star performer Owen Bryan is fit to play he may just hold the key to Mickey Hawkes side claiming victory.